McGuinness, Hayden James, 1980-
2011-06-13T20:17:19Z
2011-06-13T20:17:19Z
2011-03
http://hdl.handle.net/1794/11259
xiii, 164 p. : ill. (some col.)
We explore the frequency translation of single-photon states of light and the creation of photon pairs by four-wave mixing in optical fiber. Frequency translation refers to changing the central frequency of a field, while photon pair creation refers to the creation of two individual photons at the same time. We demonstrate these effects in third-order nonlinear optical fiber. While both phenomena have previously been shown by three-wave mixing in second-order nonlinear media, there are compelling reasons to develop these tasks in third-order media. Most importantly, frequency translation in third-order material allows for the practical implementation of both small and large frequency shifts, while second-order material only practically allows for large shifts. Photon creation in third-order media often permits more flexible phase-matching conditions, allowing for the creation of a wider variety of quantum states than is often possible in second-order media.
In our theoretical study of photon pair creation, we focus on the spectral correlations of the photon pairs. We pay particular attention to the creation of quantum states of high purity, where the photons are not spectrally correlated with one another. High purity photons are a requisite resource for several different quantum information processing applications, such as linear-optical quantum computing. We find that states with high purity can be realized with a minimal amount of spectral filtering.
Experimentally, we study photon frequency translation in photonic crystal fiber. The central wavelength of the input photons was translated from 683 nm to 659 nm. We perform second-order intensity correlation measurements on both channels to demonstrate their quantum nature. This resulted in values of 0.21 ± 0.02 and 0.19 ± 0.05 for the 683-nm and 659-nm channels, respectively, demonstrating that those fields were dominated by their single-photon component. The efficiency at which the process occurred was 29 percent. Theoretically, we develop a Green function formalism to describe the translation process and develop a computational model to calculate the solution to the governing equations. Also, in a related experiment, we demonstrate classical frequency translation from 851 nm to 641 nm, a record translation in both wavelength and frequency, at an efficiency of 0.2 percent in a birefringent fiber.
Committee in charge: Dr. Daniel Steck, Chair;
Dr. Michael Raymer, Advisor;
Dr. Steven van Enk, Inside Member;
Dr. Raghuveer Parthasarathy, Inside Member;
Dr. Andrew Marcus, Outside Member
en_US
University of Oregon
University of Oregon theses, Dept. of Physics, Ph. D., 2011;
Conversion
Nonlinear optics
Optical fibers
Single-photon
Quantum optics
Frequency translation
Quantum physics
Optics
The creation and frequency translation of single-photon states of light in optical fiber
Thesis

Cui, Guoqiang
2008-10-15T20:09:19Z
2008-10-15T20:09:19Z
2008-03
http://hdl.handle.net/1794/7487
xvii, 163 p. ; ill. (some col.) A print copy of this title is available from the UO Libraries, under the call number: SCIENCE QC446.2.C85 2008
We present experimental and theoretical studies of a hemispherical, high-solid-angle external optical micro-cavity strongly coupled to nanoscale optical centers for cavity-quantum electrodynamics (QED) strong coupling and efficient single-photon sources.
Implementations of single-photon sources based on various optical centers have been reported in the last three decades. The need for efficient single-photon sources, however, is still a major challenge in the context of quantum information processing. In order to efficiently produce single photons single optical centers are coupled to a resonant high-finesse optical micro-cavity. A cavity can channel the spontaneously emitted photons into a well-defined spatial mode and in a desired direction to improve the overall efficiency, and can alter the spectral width of the emission. It can also provide an environment where dissipative mechanisms are overcome so that a pure-quantum-state emission takes place.
We engineered a hemispherical optical micro-cavity that is comprised of a planar distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirror, and a concave dielectric mirror having a radius of curvature 60 μm. Nanoscale semiconductor optical centers (quantum dots) are placed at the cavity mode waist at the planar mirror and are located at an antinode of the cavity field to maximize the coherent interaction rate. The three-dimensional scannable optical cavity allows both spatial and spectral selection to ensure addressing single optical centers. This unique micro-cavity design will potentially enable reaching the cavity-QED strong-coupling regime and realize the deterministic production of single photons. This cavity can also be operated with a standard planar dielectric mirror replacing the semiconductor DBR mirror. Such an all-dielectric cavity may find uses in atomic cavity-QED or cold-atom studies.
We formulated a theory of single-photon emission in the cavity-QED strong-coupling regime that includes pure dipole dephasing and radiative decay both through the cavity mirror and into the side directions. This allows, for the first time, full modeling of the emission quantum efficiency, and the spectrum of the single photons emitted into the useful output mode of the, cavity.
Adviser: Michael G. Raymer
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en_US
University of Oregon
University of Oregon theses, Dept. of Physics, Ph. D., 2008
Quantum optics
Semiconductor quantum dots
Single-photon sources
Optical microcavity
An external optical micro-cavity strongly coupled to optical centers for efficient single-photon sources
Thesis